How to Change the Root Password in Ubuntu

As a system administrator or a user with root privileges, it is essential to know how to change the root password in Ubuntu. The root account has complete control over the system, and it is crucial to keep the password secure to prevent unauthorized access.

In this guide, we will take you through the process of changing the root password in Ubuntu. We will also explain related concepts and methods that will help you understand the topic better.

Prerequisites

Before we begin, you need to have the following:

A Ubuntu system with root access or a user account with sudo privileges.
Basic knowledge of the Linux command line interface.

Changing the Root Password in Ubuntu

Here are the steps to change the root password in Ubuntu:

Open the terminal on your Ubuntu system.
Log in as the root user by running the following command:
```
sudo su
```
Enter your password when prompted.
Once you are logged in as root, run the following command to change the root password:
```
passwd
```
You will be prompted to enter the new password twice. Make sure to choose a strong password that is difficult to guess.
Once you have entered the new password, you will see a message that says “password updated successfully.”
```
Enter new UNIX password:
Retype new UNIX password:
passwd: password updated successfully
```
Exit the root account by running the following command:
```
exit
```
You are now logged out of the root account.

Sudo

Sudo is a command that allows a user with root privileges to execute commands as another user, typically the root user. It is a safer alternative to logging in as the root user directly, as it allows for better control over what commands can be executed with elevated privileges.

To use sudo, simply prefix the command with “sudo” and enter your password when prompted.

Root User

The root user is the superuser account that has complete control over the system. It is also known as the “administrator” account on Windows systems. By default, the root user is disabled on Ubuntu, and users with sudo privileges are used instead.

Conclusion

Changing the root password in Ubuntu is a simple process that can be done in a few steps. It is essential to keep the password secure to prevent unauthorized access to the system. We hope that this guide has helped you understand how to change the root password in Ubuntu and related concepts.